Tag Archives: World War I

Fashion in World War I: November 1916

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Clare

The November 1916 issue of Les Élégances Parisiennes gives some interesting insights into the ways that fashion uses and reworks the past. As  Ulrich Lehmann’s Tigersprung: Fashion in Modernity pointed out, uses of the past in fashion are not neutral … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: October 1916

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Clare

One new use for lace discussed in Les Élégances Parisiennes was in the shoulder and neck areas of chemises and corset-covers. Apparently both evening bodices and afternoon blouses were being made so sheer that the undergarments could be seen through … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: September 1916

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Clare

The September 1916 issue of Les Élégances Parisiennes contained some articles that laid bare the very real economic and political rivalry between the French and German fashion industries. It reported with approval on an initiative to mark all goods produced … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: August 1916

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Clare

The August edition of Les Elégances Parisiennes was deeply concerned with the shifting relationship between Paris couturiers and American fashion houses and retailers. There was a lengthy report on a new initiative to control and monetise the reproduction of French … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I – July 1916

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Clare

In July 1917, the contradictions underpinning Paris haute couture were more apparent than ever. On July 1 the Allied armies embarked on the assault that was to become known as the Battle of the Somme, costing an unprecedented 1 million … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: June 1916

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Clare

The June 1916 issue of Les Elégances Parisiennes had a slightly different format from the first two numbers. The tension between information relevant to fashion professionals and articles advising couture clients what to buy was resolved by cutting the section … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: May 1916

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Clare

The second issue of Les Elégances Parisiennes opened with a revealing discussion of the difficulties facing the French fashion industry in wartime. The Lyon trade fair for fashion trades the previous month had been a huge success, with large orders … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: April 1916

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Clare

In April 1916, the first issue of Les Elegances Parisiennes appeared, incorporating some of the journalists and features from Le Style Parisien, but with stronger links to French couture and luxury textile trades. The contents were an uneasy mixture of … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: February 1916

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Clare

In February 1916, Le Style Parisien issued its final number. In a statement to its subscribers, it clarified that this was for moral reasons as much as for economic ones. It had aimed to create a publication that would speak … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: January 2016

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Clare

The January 1916 edition of ‘Le Style Parisien’ promoted some new trends for the coming season, including some innovative fashion fabrics produced by the leading French manufacturers. There were silks sold with lines of toning braid or fringing stitched on, … Continue reading →

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